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What date is the night of Baraat in 2023
The night of Baraat, like other memorable dates in Islam, is tied to the lunar calendar. Muslims celebrate it on the 15th of Shaaban. In 2023 it falls on the night from 6 to 7 March.
History of the Night of Baraat
The first mention of the Night of Baraat appears in the Qur’an and the first hadiths. From Arabic, it is translated as “Night of the absolution” or “Night of purification.” The holy book of Muslims says that it is on this night that the Almighty decides the fate of people who turn to him with prayer.
The night of Baraat cannot be called a holiday in the traditional sense of the word. Unlike Eid al-Adha or Eid al-Fitr, it is not customary to arrange any feasts or celebrations on this night. Initially, in the Arab tradition, this night was sacred, calm. Since the XNUMXth century, Muslims spent it without sleep, reading the suras of the Koran and prayers (dua).
Sunnis and Shiites, the two largest religious movements of Islam, treat Baraat Night a little differently. Sunnis emphasize prayers and believe that these prayers determine the fate of believers in the coming years. Shiites on this night remember the last of the successors of Muhammad – Mahdi, urging him to return to our world again and destroy the forces of evil.
Traditions Nights Wanted
Most devout Muslims spend this night in vigil and prayers. Believers believe that it is at this moment that Allah makes a decision – who to help and whose sins to forgive, who is really sincere in their appeals to God, and who is not.
In cities and villages, believers read prayers (dua), ask for forgiveness of sins and pray for the health and souls of loved ones. After sunrise, it is customary to keep a one-day fast – not to eat or drink until sunset. For many Muslims, such one-day fasts are a kind of preparation for the longest and most difficult fast in the month of Ramadan, which comes in 14-15 days.
How to spend the night of Baraat and what prayers should be read
Perhaps the main requirement for a devout Muslim is that Baraat cannot sleep at night. At the same time, theologians allow a slight indulgence. If the work or life situation does not give such an opportunity, then the believer should simply go to the mosque and sleep there.
As before most other important actions for Muslims, before the onset of the Night of Baraat, it is necessary to make ablution (“ghusl”).
The traditions of Islam advise believers to read Surah Yasin three times that night. This is a rather long sura from the holy book of the Quran. It is best if a Muslim learns it by heart, but you can also just read it aloud. It is believed that the first reading of this sura is an appeal to Allah, the second is a promise of devotion to God, the third is a request for protection.
Do not forget that the night of Baraat for believers is the night of purification, which means deliverance from sins. Therefore, on this night, all obligatory prayers and prayers missed during the day should be performed. Then, optional but desirable prayers should be read.
Theologians advise reading Tasbih prayers on this night – prayers of repentance. Tasbih prayer consists of four rak’ahs. Before reading Surah Al-Fatiha, the Tasbih prayer should be read 15 times, it should also be repeated 10 times during bows and after them.
According to Islamic tradition, as many prayers as possible should be read on this night. It is not necessary to follow any single ritual. Believers believe that it is much more important to read each prayer sincerely and with an appeal to Allah.
What Not to Do on the Night of Baraat
- The night of Baraat is for the forgiveness of sins and purification, and not for celebrations and celebrations, Muslims believe. That is why on this night it is not customary to prepare festive tables, serve special dishes and delicacies on the table. All this is not prohibited, but refers to undesirable actions. Where better to spend it in meek prayers.
- On this night, it is not customary to gather for any mass gatherings, to conduct group training, even on a religious topic. All for the same reason – it distracts believers from modest pleas for forgiveness.
- Any forbidden deed, whether it be the consumption of pork or alcohol, is in any case strictly forbidden to Muslims. But according to Islamic tradition, if a believer sins on this very night, then this sin will be tripled many times over.